• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Howard J. Luks, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon

Howard J. Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine Specialist

  • Articles
  • Notes
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Education
    • Shoulder Injuries
    • Knee Injuries
    • Elbow Injuries
  • About
Blog / Articles / Knee / ACL

ACL Tears in Somers NY Athletes

Howard J. Luks, MD Updated November 25, 2018

Featured image placeholder

Somers is a wonderful little town in Northern Westchester, NY.  I have enjoyed many evenings and weekends sitting on the sidelines, or helping out on the soccer fields.  Sitting there as a parent and as the Chief of Sports Medicine of a local academic practice I do look at these injuries from both perspectives.  I have witnessed many injuries.  Some could have been prevented, many of which could not. As I have discussed before, the loss of seasonality of sports participation is leading to a higher rate of ACL ligament tears in many of our children.  

Sitting among other parents and speaking with the coaches, it is often that I hear misinformation or poorly formulated plans to manage this terrible injury in a young athlete.

ACL tears in growing children can be a devastating injury.  The more severe the injury, and the more structures injured in combination with the ACL, the more likely these youngsters might have life long ongoing issues with their knee.

As I often advise patients, your first ACL surgery is where we have the best chance at restoring the function and stability of the knee.   How can you determine who is best qualified to treat or reconstruct your little athlete’s ACL tear?  We know that volume matters in ACL surgery.  ACL surgery should be performed by those of us who perform many of these procedures each year.  The average Orthopedist performs but a few each year.  The complication rate of low volume surgeons can be nearly 4 times higher then a high volume surgeon.

Which graft or tissue should we use to restore the ACL in our child’s knee.  To a large extent that will be determined by their age and how much growth they have left.   You might also be offered an allograft option — that is a ligament from a cadaver.  Initially it might sound appealing, but if you read the literature or attend our conferences the data you will see can be astounding.  Allografts of cadaveric grafts can high a failure rate as high as 40% in children.  Thus, allografts should be avoided, if possible.

Powered by ZocDoc

The most important part of recovering from ACL surgery will ultimately be the rehabilitation.  The physical therapy following an ACL reconstruction is of critical importance.  Rehabilitation involves not only getting your child’s knee back into shape, but also concentrating on emotional issues surrounding their injury and recovery from an ACL injury.

In my position as the head of a large local sports medicine program I have read about the rise of ACL injuries in many sports which are no longer seasonal in nature.  The year round participation is over-stressing our children.  My local community of Somers in Northern Westchester NY is no different.  I am witnessing many more injuries then I did a decade ago.  Luckily our knowledge about the best way to reconstruct and rehabilitate these ACL injuries has improved … and in the right hands, your child has a 70-80% chance of getting back on the field.

Do your homework , do not be afraid to seek many opinions … this is not an emergency surgery.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Powered by ZocDoc

 

Categories: ACL

Disclaimer:  this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Some links on this page may be affiliate links. Read the full disclaimer.

Related Articles

photo of man swinging golf driver
ACL Surgery: Video Answers To Common Questions- Part 1
When should I have ACL surgery
Should We Delay ACL Surgery to Decrease Risk of Arthritis
ACL tear questions
8 Important ACL Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
Is Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Useful In Recovery From ACL Surgery?
Should I return after ACL surgery
Why Some Athletes Never Return to Sports After ACL Surgery
Did I tear my ACL?
Did I Tear My ACL? 
Howard J. Luks, MD

Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

Book Appointment · About · Contact

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Like what you’re reading?

Get the latest posts in your inbox

Primary Sidebar

Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

Book Appointment · About · Contact

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Like what you’re reading?

Get the latest posts in your inbox

Longevity... Simplified: Living A Longer, Healthier Life Shouldn’t Be Complicated

My new book is available now.

Learn More
Read Reviews

Reader Favorites

  • Batters shoulder posterior labral tear
    Batter’s Shoulder : Posterior Labral Tears
  • calcific tendonitis and severe shoulder pain
    Why Does My Shoulder Hurt So Much?
  • knee swelling
    Pain In The Front Of The Knee: 6 Common Causes
  • lactate polarized training
    Lactate, the lactate shuttle, and lactate threshold workouts in polarized training
  • Zone 2 heart rate training
    Zone 2 Heart Rate Training For Longevity and Performance
  • LEg exercises improve longevity
    Runners require strength too: What to do and when to do it
  • should I have surgery
    Sometimes our joints just hurt, and it’s ok not to know why
  • Polarized training for runners
    Polarized training for everyday runners: Part 1

Howard J Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
128 Ashford Avenue
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

Phone: (914)-559-1900
Book Appointment

Pages

  • About
  • Upcoming Books
  • Testimonials
  • In The News
  • Media Photos
  • Contact

Topics

  • Shoulder
  • Knee
  • Elbow
  • Metabolic Health
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Training

More

  • COVID
  • Ankle
  • Hip
  • PRP
  • Running
  • Sports Medicine
  • Articles
  • Notes
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Education
  • About

© 2022 · Howard J Luks, MD · Disclaimer & Terms · Privacy Policy
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This site should be used for informational purposes only.